"It seems to me that if America were really expanding economically, that kind of wealth, that kind of disparity is palpable. But when you have stagnation when you have a chronic case of unemployment, the sense of social injustice can be terribly demoralizing and politically in the long run, very dangerous. It can politicize social economic issues, create radicalism, class conflict [and] extremism and I think that is a real risk in our society. Especially since so many of those who made so much money recently produce very little wealth for others. They essentially pocket the money. They are engaged in financial manipulations but not in enhancing productivity and increasing employment," Zbigniew Brzezinski said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Wednesday.

Brzezinski served as United States National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981

Zbigniew would have you believe that all those "rich" are keeping their millions under their mattress's. He's got the Scrooge McDuck Syndrome, SMS, a common delusion among liberals. In actuality their money is banks or other insitutions where it can be loaned or put to work in some fashion.

Crikey, SMS!

5
posted on 07/06/2011 6:25:53 AM PDT
by tet68
( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)

“...National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981...” A wannabe Henry Kissinger. (Why anyone would want to seek that is beyond me.)
His “expertise” was suppose to be National Security affairs. Now he is an economic expert. He was barely tolerable in his job with Carter, why should I listen to him now? Just because he has faded far and fast in the last 30 years? A dud then and a dud now. (FYI: I worked for the NSC while this guy was the NSA.)

Especially since so many of those who made so much money recently produce very little wealth for others.

He's absolutely right about one section of the recently rich. A lot of banker's bonuses paid for on the taxpayer dime - and for what? There is a kind of rich person who doesn't produce actual wealth nor anything of value - and they are usually working for - or in cahoots with - government.

But in general - he should lay off the rich or be much more precise about the particular rich he means. No poor guy ever gave me a job.

If I make a lot of honest money and want to pocket it, what business is it to Zbig and his socialist buddies? But maybe if the government would stop trashing the private sector, more of this pocketed money would be invested in job creation.

I’d rather the rich pocket some of the money. It’s a heck of a lot more responsible than trillion dollar deficits.

I live around several small business owners who, while riding out the current economic climate, are taking less home and cutting back on personal spending budgets. The little pocket money they are keeping could mean the difference between a thriving business or no business in the future.

Especially since so many of those who made so much money recently produce very little wealth for others. They essentially pocket the money. They are engaged in financial manipulations but not in enhancing productivity and increasing employment," Zbigniew Brzezinski said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Wednesday.

He's obviously referring to his friend, George Soros.

19
posted on 07/06/2011 6:54:39 AM PDT
by MNnice
(Showing fresh signs of liberalitis, the strain of the orbital muscles due to excessive eye rolling)

Does Ziggy mean actually “pocket” their millions? Even if the “rich” just put their cash into savings accounts, would the bank not loan it out? This is meaningless rhetoric unless, like the royal family in India, the rich put their money into a vault beneath a temple. The economy is shrinking as government demands more and regulates more. The rich are prudently not throwing their money away unlike the government which supports welfare which supports drug dealers (now there is a growth industry for O to tout.

Yep. Those “eeeevilll rich” pocket their money. What incentive do they have (aside from Obama’s constant lecturing) for investing anything?

They don’t remotely have any idea what the Obama administration is going to do next, what regulation, what tax, what “mandate”; they have nothing stable on which to base an investment - just more lectures from the Teleprompter of Obama, and the worry that the same “base” will catapult him into office for four more agonizing years.

So, why are they going to invest in job producing projects and products?

25
posted on 07/06/2011 7:10:26 AM PDT
by Twinkie
(For whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13)

“But when you have stagnation when you have a chronic case of unemployment, the sense of social injustice can be terribly demoralizing and politically in the long run, very dangerous. It can politicize social economic issues, create radicalism, class conflict [and] extremism and I think that is a real risk in our society.”

I frequently ask my economics students if they think that Bill Gates, one of the richest persons in the world, has a solid gold toilet flushed with Perrier water. Clearly Gates could afford such extravagances, but when I ask what they think he really does with all his money they realize that a substantial part is invested and given to his philanthropy. Even if the uber rich spend money on themselves with corporate jets, high end cars, expensive dinners at top restaurants, etc. that money creates jobs. I remember a few years ago when Congress in its infinite wisdom imposed a tax on luxury yachts. The result US builders of luxury boats went out of business as the rich, including Sen. John Kerry,just bought their boats overseas.

32
posted on 07/06/2011 8:10:46 AM PDT
by The Great RJ
("The problem with socialism is that pretty soon you run out of other people's money" M. Thatcher)

“If I make a lot of honest money and want to pocket it, what business is it to Zbig and his socialist buddies?”

His point seems to be along the lines of that trusty old defense of the New Deal holding that had we not adopted that moderate amount of socialism we risked communist revolution. Brzezinski is afraid that the idleness of the malefactors of great wealth is unecessarily inflammatory to the people’s sense of “social justice.”

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